Mutational landscape of SWI/SNF complex genes reveal correlation to predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy sensitivity in lung adenocarcinoma patients

BACKGROUND: The search for prognostic biomarkers indicating sensitivity to immunotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma patients has zeroed in on genes in the switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) pathway. The mutational profiles of key genes are not clearly defined, however, and no comparisons have been conducted on whether mutations in the genes involved provide the same predictive value. METHODS: In this study, analysis of clinical factors, tumor mutation burden (TMB), chromosomal instability, and co-alterations was conducted for 4344 lung adenocarcinoma samples. Independent online cohorts (N = 1661 and 576) were used to supplement the analysis with survival and RNA-seq data. RESULTS: Mutational burden and chromosomal instability analysis showed that ARID family mutations (including ARID1A, ARID1B, or ARID2 mutations) and SMARC family mutations (including SMARCA4 or SMARCB1 mutations) display different profiles from wild-type (WT) samples (TMB: ARID versus WT: P < 2.2 × 10(−16), SMARC versus WT: P < 2.2 × 10(−16); CIN: ARID versus WT: P = 1.8 × 10(−5), SMARC versus WT: P = 0.027). Both mutant groups have a higher proportion of transversions than transitions, whereas the ratio is more equal for wild-type samples. Survival analysis shows that patients with ARID mutations were more sensitive to immunotherapy treatment than wild-type and SMARC-mutated patients (P < 0.001 and P = 0.013, respectively), and multivariate Cox analysis reveals that the presence of ARID mutations is likely the main cause. CONCLUSIONS: The research presented in this study shows that mutations in the ARID gene family, including ARID1A, ARID1B, and ARID2, are primarily responsible for the sensitive response to immunotherapy treatment in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.